subjects of international law

In public international law, the subjects of international law traditionally included states. Since the establishment of international criminal tribunals, individuals are also proper subjects of international law. Other international actors include transnational corporations, non-state actors, and terrorist groups. The regulation of these actors' activities in the international sphere is one of the most pressing concerns of contemporary international law.  See Christopher Joyner, International Law in the 21st Century 23-27 (2005).

[Last reviewed in June of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Keywords

• international law
• public international law

Wex

• CIVICS
• wex definitions
• foreign perspective
• government
• group rights
• international law
• public international law